Car-coupling



(No Model.)

M. HAYDEN v GAR GOUPLIING. No. 292.430. Patented-Ian. 22, 1884.

aw W 5o coupling, while the near side or face of the I UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

i'rAnsHaLL HAYDEN, on NEW MILFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

VCAR- COU PLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,430, dated January 22, 1884.

Application filed December 4,1883. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern/.

Be it known that I, MAEsnALL HAYDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Milford, in the county of Susquehanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of selfactingor safety car-couplings in which a coupling-link is automatically engaged with beveled hooks or projections upon the draw-heads, the object beingto provide a safe and reliable means of coupling cars, so as to avoid liability-of accidents to the attendants.

To this end the invention consists of a drawhead having its forward end out awayin such a manner as to present less vertical thickness than the rear portion, a rearwardly-inclined coupling hook or horn being located 011 this reduced end of the draw-head,with horizontal ledges on the sides thereof for supporting the link, while a transverse groove and a vertical abutment that carries an overhanging lug is arranged at the rear of said coupling-hook, the purpose "of the abutment. and its lug being to afford a support for the link when in a vertical position, and also serve as a fulcrum and obviate liability of displacement, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings,illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved car-coupling, showing the link elevated to a vertical position ready for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the manner of coupling when the link is in a horizontal position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the draw-heads. A

The end of each draw-head A is reduced in vertical thickness, and provided on its upper surface with a beveled projectionor rearwardly-inclined horn,B, that serves as a hook for engagingv the link 0 when the cars are coupled. This hook or horn B does not occupy the full width of the drawhead, but is of such dimensions as to leave on each side a ledge, a, of sufficient breadth to support the sides of the link. It will be seen that the an terior inclined face of the horn B presents a smooth surface for the passage of the link in horn is inclined backward at a more obtuse angle, and is rounded laterally to correspond with the curved end of the link. The rear or inner portion of the draw-headAis of greater vertical thickness or depth than the anterior portion, and forms an abutment, b, at the base of which is a transverse groove or socket, c,

for receiving the end of the link 0, when the latter is placed in a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1. At the upper part of the vertical abutment b is a forward-projecting lug, d,that overhangs the groove 0, and is of sufficient width to fit freely between the sides of the link.

It will be observed that when the link 0 is arranged in the vertical position represented 6 in Fig. 1 it rests against the abutment b, with its lower end in the groove or socket c, where it is held from lateral displacement by means of thelug (Z.

The link 0 may be left in either a vertical or a horizontal position preparatory to coupling. When it is in a vertical or raised position, the shock produced by the contact of the opposite draw-heads will cause it to fall and interlock the horns B B, thereby securely coupling the cars, so that they will move with but little jar or strain. If, however, the link should be in a horizontal position prior to coupling, or resting on the ledges a a of one draw-head at each side of the horn B,the approach of the draw-heads will cause its free end to travel up the anterior inclined face of the opposite horn B, as shown in Fig. 2, until it reaches the top, when it will fall back behind thevrounded rear face of the horn and .become engaged therewith. When coupling in this manner from a horizontal position,the base of the abutment b serves as a supportbr fulcrum for the rear end of the link 0, and the overhanging lug cl obviates any liability of vertical displacement from sudden jar,while the horn B prevents lateral displacement.

It is obvious that a train of cars equipped with these coupling devices can be automatically connected at all times without exposing the lives of attendants.

It may also be remarked that while the slight rearward incline of the rear portions of the hooks or horns B B is suflicient to hold. the

link securely during the ordinary movements I00 of the train, should any of the cars become I verse groove at the base of said abutment, in

derailed, they will readily uncouple without dragging the entire train from the track.

Having thus described myinvention,what I claim is 1. A draw-head having at its forward end an inclined hook or horn with horizontaledges 011 each side for supporting the link in a hori ZORItfil position before or after coupling, and provided at the rear with a vertical abutment having a forward-proiectin g lug, d, rigid therewith, said lug being adapted to hold the link from vertical displacement when the link is in a horizontal position, and from lateral displacement when it is in a raised position, substantially as described.

2. A draw-head having at its forward end a rearwardly-inclined hook or horn with hori zontal ledges on each side, and provided at the rear with a vertical abutment carrying a forward-proj ecting lug that overhangs a transcombination with a coupling-link, substantially as described.

3. The draw-head A, provided at its end with a rearwardly-inclined hook or horn, B, the rear face of which is rounded and inclined back slightly from a vertical line, with horizontal ledges a a on each side, the rear portion of said draw-head being formed with a vertical abutment, I), having at the top a forward-projecting lug,d,that overhangs a transverse'groove, c, at the base of said abutment, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARSHALL l-IAYDFN.

\Vit ncsses:

Jos. L. Coonns, J. A. RUTHERFORD. 

